Sliding door frame

ABSTRACT

A SLIDING DOOR FRAME HAVING OPEN, RECTANGULAR CROSS SECTION STILES AND RAILS FOR RESILIENTLY HOLDING A DOOR PANEL IN PLACE IN THE FRAME AND BRACKETS WITH SPACED CHANNEL PORTIONS DISPOSED WITHIN THE STILES AND RAILS WHICH TOGETHER   WITH CORNER HANGER AND GUIDE PLATES SECURE THE STILES TO THE RAILS.

L. E. JOHNSON, JR

SLIDING DOOR FRAME Feb. 16, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 19, 1969 4NTOR.

Zgwwr/f Feb. 16, 1971 JQHNSQN, JR 3,562,956

SLIDING DOOR FRAME Filed Nov. 19, 1969 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

United States Patent 3,562,956 SLIDING DOOR FRAME Leonard E. Johnson,Jr., 7 Susquehanna, Elkhart, Ind. 46514 Filed Nov. 19, 1969, Ser. No.878,152 Int. Cl. Ed 13/02 US. Cl. 49-411 3 Claims ABSTRACT OF THEDISCLOSURE A sliding door frame having open, rectangular cross sectionstiles and rails for resiliently holding a door panel in place in theframe and brackets with spaced channel portions disposed within thestiles and rails which together with corner hanger and guide platessecure the stiles to the rails.

This invention relates to an improved sliding door frame in whichidentically shaped corner brackets join stiles and rails to form a framearound a door panel. Sliding door frames embodying the present inventionare particularly useful in mobile homes but may be used in otherapplications. An example of one form of door frame is shown in US. Pat.No. 3,058,173 in which specially constructed E-shaped stiles and railsare held together by specially constructed hanger members and guidemembers. The prior art frame is relatively expensive but is alsorelatively weak and does not withstand severe usage. The prior art frameis also not readily assembled and disassembled and does not readilyaccommodate door panels of varying thickness.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a relativelyinexpensive door frame which is rugged and will stand up well undersevere condition, may be readily fitted and insta'led and which willaccommodate door panels of varying thickness.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description taken inconjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 shows a sliding door installation embodying the presentinvention,

FIG. 2 is a view taken along line 22 in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a view taken along line 31-3 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 is a view taken along line 44 in FIG. 2,

FIG. 5 is a view taken along line 55 of FIG. 2, and

FIG. 6 is a view taken along line 66 of FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIG. 1, numerals10 and 12 designate sliding doors suspended from an overhead track 14and guided in floor mounted track 16. The doors 10 and 12 are identicalso that a description of one will suflice. Door 10 comprised a panel 18mounted in a frame 20 formed by stiles 22 and 24 and upper and lowerrails 26 and 28 respectively. As best seen in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, stile 24is joined to upper and lower rails 26 and 28 by means of brackets 30 and32. Identical brackets, not shown, join stile 22 to rails 26 and 28. Thebrackets are identical. Hereafter similar parts will be indicated bysimilar numerals primed. Bracket 30 is formed with a first channelportion 34 and a second channel portion 36 connected by an intermediateplanar portion 38 which is turned over to position the second channelportion 36 substantially perpendicular to the first channel portion 34but spaced a predetermined distance a therefrom. As best seen in FIG. 2,notches 40 and 42 are formed in the upper and lower ends respectively ofstile 24 to receive intermediate portion 38, 38.

Stiles 22 and 24 are identical and rails 26 and 28 are identical andeach has a generally rectangular cross section. As best seen in FIG. 4,stile 24 is provided with a front member 44 and a back member 46connected by an outside member 48, an inside member 50 extends angularlyand resiliently from the back member 46 toward the front member 44 butterminates a predetermined distance b therefrom. Rail 26, as best seenin FIG. 2, is provided with a front member 52 and a back member 54connected by an outside member 56, an inside member 58 extends angularlyand resiliently from the back member 54 t ward the front member 52 butterminates a predetermined distance b therefrom.

The first channel portions 34, 34' of brackets 30 and 32 are disposedwithin stile 24 with the intermediate planar portion 38, 38 in notches40 and 42 respectively. The second channel portions 36, 36 arerespectively disposed in rails 26 and 28, the ends of which are adaptedfor abutting engagement with stiles 22 and 24.

Four identical corner plates, two of which are shown at 60 and 62 aresecured to a stile and rail by suitable screws 64. Screws 64 passthrough the stile and rail back members to be secured to the bracketsmounted within the stile and rail. The plates are formed with a channel66 and a flange 68. The channels 66 open toward a rail back member 54.The upper brackets 60 are provided with a hanger 70 which is slidablymounted in channel 66 for movement between the corner plate 60 and backmember 54. A bolt 72 mounted on flange 68 is adjustably secured to aflange 74 on the hanger 70 by means of a nut 76. A wheel 78 mounted onhanger 70 is adapted to ride in overhead track 14.

A guide member 80 carrying a plastic guide block 81 is slidably mountedin channel 66' formed in the lower plate 62. A stem 82 on guide member80 projects through an opening 84 in flange 68' and carries a spring 86which reacts between the flange 68' and guide member 80 to urge theguide member outwardly away from the rail outside member 56' to bringguide block 81 into engagement with the floor track 16.

As will be readily seen, the frame 20 can be easily assembled anddisassembled to obtained a proper fit around door panel 18. The frame isrelatively inexpensive in that the rails and stiles have the same crosssection and the brackets and corner plates are identical inconstruction. The corner plates not only serve to brace and strengthenthe frame but also serve to carry the hanger and guide members. Thebracket construction While adding to the strength of the frame andproviding a more secure mounting for the hanger and guide members alsopermits the stiles and rails to be flushy and evenly joined. Theresilient inside members 50 and 58 permit the frame 40 to accommodatepanels of different thicknesses.

Having described a preferred embodiment of my invention, it will bereadily apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes andmodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

I claim:

1. A sliding door frame comprising a pair of stiles adapted to be joinedto an upper and lower rail to form a frame, each of said stiles andrails being generally rectangular in cross section with a front memberand a back member connected by an outside member and an inside memberextending angularly and resiliently from said back member toward saidfront member and terminating a predetermined distance therefrom, a notchformed in the end of each stile inside member, corner bracket means forsecuring said stiles to said rails, said bracket means being formed witha first channel portion and a second channel portion connected by anintermediate planar portion, said second channel portion beingsubstantially perpendicular to said first channel portion and spaced apredetermined distance therefrom, said first channel portion ofeachcorner bracket being disposed in a stile with the intermediateplanar portion in the notch in the stile inside member, said secondchannel portion of each bracket being disposed in a rail, corner platemembers adapted to be secured to the back members of said stiles andrails, means for securing said corner plates and said brackets to saidback members, hanger means adjustably mounted on the corner platessecured to the upper rail and guide means depending from the cornerplates secured to the lower rail, said stiles and rails forming a frameto receive a door panel between said front members and said insidemembers whereby said inside members resiliently engage the rear surfaceof the door panel to hold the door panel in place in the frame.

-2. The door frame of claim 1 wherein the corner plates secured to theupper rail are formed with a channel opening toward the back member ofsaid rail, a hanger slidably mounted in said channel for movementbetween said corner plate and rail back member, and adjusting meansmounted on said plates and connected to said hanger for moving saidhanger in said channel.

3. The door frame of claim 1 wherein the corner plates secured to thelower rail are formed with a channel opening toward the back member ofsaid rail, guide means slidably mounted in said channel, and springmeans between said corner plates and guide means for urging said guidemeans outwardly away from the rail outside member.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,784,445 3/1957 Greig et a149410X 3,058,173 10/1962 Brydolf 49411 3,261,129 7/1966 Brydolf et a1.49411 KENNETH DOWNEY, Primary Examiner

